Still thinking about that ranger who laughed at my tent setup in Yosemite

I was setting up a brand new 4-person dome tent at a campground in Yosemite back in July, and a ranger walked over and just watched for a minute. He said 'you know that rainfly goes on before the poles, right?' and I told him the instructions said poles first. He just shrugged and said suit yourself, then walked off. Eight hours later a storm rolled in and my tent floor had a puddle because I set it up wrong. I still follow his way now because it actually keeps the bottom dry. Has anyone else had a ranger or old timer give them advice that totally changed how you camp?

3 comments

3 Comments

emery_lopez2mo ago

That ranger basically saved your whole trip and didn't even try to be a hero about it. I love how they'll just drop sage wisdom (like rainfly first) and walk away without any explanation. My dad taught me the same trick years ago, and it's saved me from so many wet nights.

charlie_ellis2mo ago

Think about how many times you struggle with something for hours and then some random person walks up and gives you a tiny piece of advice that makes everything click. It's like that old saying about how the simplest solutions are usually the best ones. I've seen it happen at work with people who overcomplicate spreadsheets until someone shows them a shortcut, or even just cooking where a friend watches you chop an onion wrong and fixes your grip in two seconds. Those small moments of humble wisdom are everywhere if you're paying attention. But the trick is you have to be willing to listen even when it sounds backwards, like rainfly first.

tara_jones942mo ago

Nodding along to your point @charlie_ellis, but sometimes the simplest fix is just walking away and coming back later.